Education & Conferences
COMMISSIONERS VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Frequently asked Questions about the CCC Program
Who can participate in the program?
This program was designed for county commissioners. Only commissioners will receive the Certified County Commissioner designation. County Staff are welcome to attend and “audit” the courses.
How do you enroll in the program?
When you attend your first CCC course, you will automatically be enrolled in the program. Your course credits will continue to be collected until you have completed the entire CCC program.
Who teaches the program?
A team of experts which includes university faculty, government officials, professional speakers, FAC members, and FAC staff.
How long does it take to receive the CCC designation?
CCC courses are offered year round at FAC conferences. The core courses, with exception of the New Commissioner Workshop, are offered once a year. This program can be completed with 12 to 18 months. To graduate, commissioners must take a total of 42 hours of courses. This includes 30 hours of core, 6 hours of elective and 6 hours of continuing education. The CCC graduation ceremony is held every year during FAC’s Annual Conference.
How much does the program cost?
Ten courses will be offered this calendar year. The registration fee for five of the courses will be $125 a day, while the other five course registrations are built into the conference registration price. In 2009, the FCF Board is offering registration scholarships. A scholarship of $125 for the registration fee will be awarded to the first 10 small county commissioners (pop. of less than 75,000) who register for a course.
How does FAC keep track of the courses that I have taken?
All core and elective courses will have sign-in sheets passed around the room throughout the day. In order to receive credit for a course, you must attend the entire program from start to finish. For continuing education, you need to register and attend the conference in order to receive credit.
How can I keep track of the CCC courses that I have taken?
All of your records are maintained at the FAC office. Transcripts can be emailed to you upon request. The FAC office will also notify you once you are getting close to graduation to ensure that you take the final courses needed to complete the program.
Requirements for CCC Designation
(As amended by FCF Board 6/25/06)
County Commissioners have the opportunity to complete a program of study that is designed to provide information and enhance skills relevant to their duties and responsibilities. Completion of course requirements, which takes from 18 to 24 months, will result in the designation "Certified County Commissioner." The CCC designation requires completion of 42 hours of course work or 36 hours for commissioners beginning the program prior to June 2006.
CORE CURRICULUM: 30 Hours Required
The classes included in the Core Curriculum are considered to be "basic studies." The program content for each course is designed to cover fundamental information necessary to effectively serve as a county commissioner. To be certified, commissioners must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours of core curriculum from the following courses:
The New Commissioners Workshop (6 hours)
Financial Management (6 hours)
County Government Roles & Responsibilities (6 hours)
Ethics, Public Records, & Sunshine Laws (6 hours - mandatory)
County Government Structure & Authority (6 hours)
Growth Management & Land Use Decisions (6 hours)
(The Sunshine, Public Records & Ethics Laws Course is mandatory. Commissioners may substitute the 12-hour on-line course, Florida Code of Ethics, Sunshine Law & Public Records Act, offered by the Florida Institute of Government. The on-line course will count as 6 hours of CCC credit. The New Commissioners Workshop is also mandatory for commissioners elected after 1996. However, if the New Commissioners Workshop is not completed, participation in five core classes may be substituted.)
ELECTIVE CURRICULUM: 6 Hours Required
The following courses are skills important to county commissioners. A maximum of 6 credit hours from these classes or similar may be applied toward the 42 hours required for certification.
Florida's Legislative Process (3 hours)
Negotiation Skills (3 hours)
Understanding Charter Government (3 hours)
Diversity Training (3 hours)
Intergovt. Relations, Annexation & CRA's (3 hours)
Effective Communication (6 hours)
Economic Development (3 hours)
Labor Relations (3 hours)
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 6 Hours Required
Participation in statewide education and policymaking events is an important part of the curriculum. As such, the following events are CCC accredited. The credit hours vary.
FAC Annual Conference (3 hours)
FAC Legislative Day (1.5 hours)
FAC Policy Committee Meeting (1.5 hours)
FAC New Commissioners' Orientation (1.5 hours)
FAC Legislative Conference (2 hours)